How to use OR in Excel
TRUE if any test is true.
Syntax
logical1A test[logical2]Another test optionalExample
Here’s OR on a small table of orders. The highlighted cells are the ones the formula reads.
=OR(B2="West",D2>3)Edit this formula live Change the ranges and watch the answer update. Free, no sign-up.
Common mistakes with OR
OR is TRUE if any test is
One true test is enough. Use AND when every test must pass.
Repeat the cell in each test
Write OR(B2="East",B2="West"), not OR(B2="East","West").
What the error messages mean
Type these slips into Gridwise and this is the feedback you get:
Leaving off the closing bracket
=OR(B2="West",D2>3
Parentheses don’t match. You have 1 opening and 0 closing parentheses. Every ( needs a ).
Text without quotes
=OR(B2=West,D2>3)
Text needs quotes. West isn’t a function or a cell, so Excel can’t read it. If you mean the word, write "West" with quotes.
Questions
What does the OR function do in Excel?
TRUE if any test is true. The syntax is OR(logical1, [logical2], …).
Why is my OR formula giving the wrong answer?
OR is TRUE if any test is: One true test is enough. Use AND when every test must pass. Repeat the cell in each test: Write OR(B2="East",B2="West"), not OR(B2="East","West").
Does OR work in Google Sheets?
Most Excel functions, including the core ones on this page, work the same way in Google Sheets. A few newer functions arrived in Sheets later or behave slightly differently, so test it on your own data.